Report of a Fatal, Acute Tripelennamine Intoxication

Tripelennamine is a widely used antihistamine. It has been reported as a drug of abuse (“blue velvet”) with multiple deaths being attributed to its chronic intravenous usage [1]. Acute oral ingestion resulting in death, however, is unusual. There has been one reported death in a 2-year-old child [2], but thus far no deaths have been reported in adults due to tripelennamine overdose. This report presents both autopsy findings and toxicological analysis in what we believe is the first fatal case in an adult.